SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — With four regions of the state already in mitigation mode and a fifth, Region 11, set to join that group as of Oct. 30, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health have announced guidelines for winter sports.
These guidelines apply to school-sanctioned and adult recreational league sports, and not to collegiate or professional sports.
Youth sports have been categorized as lower, medium, or higher risk, based on the amount of contact within the sport.
Basketball is considered a higher risk sport. Higher risk sports are limited to only no-contact practices and training, meaning no intra-team scrimmages or intra-conference games are permitted.
Other higher risk sports include wrestling and hockey.
Dance, cheer, gymnastics, bowling, swimming, and diving were among the sports classified as lower risk, and thus able to go as far as holding intra-conference, intra-emergency medical service region, and intra-league meets, matches, and games.
State and league championships are permitted with lower risk sports, as well.
Dance and cheer, the State said, would only be kept at a lower risk level if masking and social distancing were observed.
